II 

Calendar No. 173 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1557 

[Report No. 115–130] 

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 

2018, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 13, 2017 

Mr. MORAN, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following 

original bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar 

A BILL 

Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the 

fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That the following sums are appropriated, out of any 

4 money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for 

5 military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
2 

•S 1557 PCS

1 and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 

2 30, 2018, and for other purposes, namely: 

3 TITLE I 

4 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

5 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

6 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip7 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

8 installations, facilities, and real property for the Army as 

9 currently authorized by law, including personnel in the 

10 Army Corps of Engineers and other personal services nec11 essary for the purposes of this appropriation, and for con12 struction and operation of facilities in support of the func13 tions of the Commander in Chief, $930,394,000, to re14 main available until September 30, 2022. 

15 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

16 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip17 ment of temporary or permanent public works, naval in18 stallations, facilities, and real property for the Navy and 

19 Marine Corps as currently authorized by law, including 

20 personnel in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command 

21 and other personal services necessary for the purposes of 

22 this appropriation, $1,565,665,000, to remain available 

23 until September 30, 2022. 
3 

•S 1557 PCS

1 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

2 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip3 ment of temporary or permanent public works, military 

4 installations, facilities, and real property for the Air Force 

5 as currently authorized by law, $1,569,296,000, to remain 

6 available until September 30, 2022. 

7 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

8 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

9 For acquisition, construction, installation, and equip10 ment of temporary or permanent public works, installa11 tions, facilities, and real property for activities and agen12 cies of the Department of Defense (other than the military 

13 departments), as currently authorized by law, 

14 $2,612,583,000, to remain available until September 30, 

15 2022: Provided, That such amounts of this appropriation 

16 as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may 

17 be transferred to such appropriations of the Department 

18 of Defense available for military construction or family 

19 housing as the Secretary may designate, to be merged with 

20 and to be available for the same purposes, and for the 

21 same time period, as the appropriation or fund to which 

22 transferred. 

23 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

24 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita25 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad-
4 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ministration of the Army National Guard, and contribu2 tions therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 

3 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza4 tion Acts, $210,652,000, to remain available until Sep5 tember 30, 2022. 

6 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR NATIONAL GUARD

7 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita8 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad9 ministration of the Air National Guard, and contributions 

10 therefor, as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, United 

11 States Code, and Military Construction Authorization 

12 Acts, $161,491,000, to remain available until September 

13 30, 2022. 

14 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY RESERVE

15 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita16 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad17 ministration of the Army Reserve as authorized by chapter 

18 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military Con19 struction Authorization Acts, $73,712,000, to remain 

20 available until September 30, 2022. 

21 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY RESERVE

22 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita23 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad24 ministration of the reserve components of the Navy and 

25 Marine Corps as authorized by chapter 1803 of title 10, 
5 

•S 1557 PCS

1 United States Code, and Military Construction Authoriza2 tion Acts, $65,271,000, to remain available until Sep3 tember 30, 2022. 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE RESERVE

5 For construction, acquisition, expansion, rehabilita6 tion, and conversion of facilities for the training and ad7 ministration of the Air Force Reserve as authorized by 

8 chapter 1803 of title 10, United States Code, and Military 

9 Construction Authorization Acts, $63,535,000, to remain 

10 available until September 30, 2022. 

11 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

12 SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

13 For the United States share of the cost of the North 

14 Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Pro15 gram for the acquisition and construction of military fa16 cilities and installations (including international military 

17 headquarters) and for related expenses for the collective 

18 defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area as authorized 

19 by section 2806 of title 10, United States Code, and Mili20 tary Construction Authorization Acts, $154,000,000, to 

21 remain available until expended. 

22 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE ACCOUNT

23 For deposit into the Department of Defense Base 

24 Closure Account, established by section 2906(a) of the De25 fense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 
6 

•S 1557 PCS

1 U.S.C. 2687 note), $255,867,000, to remain available 

2 until expended. 

3 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

4 ARMY

5 For expenses of family housing for the Army for op6 eration and maintenance, including debt payment, leasing, 

7 minor construction, principal and interest charges, and in8 surance premiums, as authorized by law, $348,907,000. 

9 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

10 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

11 For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Ma12 rine Corps for operation and maintenance, including debt 

13 payment, leasing, minor construction, principal and inter14 est charges, and insurance premiums, as authorized by 

15 law, $328,282,000. 

16 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, AIR

17 FORCE

18 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

19 operation and maintenance, including debt payment, leas20 ing, minor construction, principal and interest charges, 

21 and insurance premiums, as authorized by law, 

22 $318,324,000. 
7 

•S 1557 PCS

1 FAMILY HOUSING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, 

2 DEFENSE-WIDE

3 For expenses of family housing for the activities and 

4 agencies of the Department of Defense (other than the 

5 military departments) for operation and maintenance, 

6 leasing, and minor construction, as authorized by law, 

7 $59,169,000. 

8 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

9 For expenses of family housing for the Army for con10 struction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, ex11 pansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 

12 $182,662,000, to remain available until September 30, 

13 2022: Provided, That none of the funds provided under 

14 this heading for family housing construction may be ex15 pended for family housing improvements on Kwajalein 

16 Atoll until the Secretary of the Army certifies to the con17 gressional defense committees that the new housing units 

18 represent the best value to the taxpayer and that no rea19 sonable alternatives exist at a lower cost. 

20 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE

21 CORPS

22 For expenses of family housing for the Navy and Ma23 rine Corps for construction, including acquisition, replace24 ment, addition, expansion, extension, and alteration, as 
8 

•S 1557 PCS

1 authorized by law, $83,682,000, to remain available until 

2 September 30, 2022. 

3 FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

4 For expenses of family housing for the Air Force for 

5 construction, including acquisition, replacement, addition, 

6 expansion, extension, and alteration, as authorized by law, 

7 $85,062,000, to remain available until September 30, 

8 2022. 

9 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FAMILY HOUSING

10 IMPROVEMENT FUND

11 For the Department of Defense Family Housing Im12 provement Fund, $2,726,000, to remain available until ex13 pended, for family housing initiatives undertaken pursu14 ant to section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, pro15 viding alternative means of acquiring and improving mili16 tary family housing and supporting facilities. 

17 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MILITARY

18 UNACCOMPANIED HOUSING IMPROVEMENT FUND

19 For the Department of Defense Military Unaccom20 panied Housing Improvement Fund, $623,000, to remain 

21 available until expended, for unaccompanied housing ini22 tiatives undertaken pursuant to section 2883 of title 10, 

23 United States Code, providing alternative means of acquir24 ing and improving military unaccompanied housing and 

25 supporting facilities. 
9 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

2 SEC. 101. None of the funds made available in this 

3 title shall be expended for payments under a cost-plus-a4 fixed-fee contract for construction, where cost estimates 

5 exceed $25,000, to be performed within the United States, 

6 except Alaska, without the specific approval in writing of 

7 the Secretary of Defense setting forth the reasons there8 for. 

9 SEC. 102. Funds made available in this title for con10 struction shall be available for hire of passenger motor ve11 hicles. 

12 SEC. 103. Funds made available in this title for con13 struction may be used for advances to the Federal High14 way Administration, Department of Transportation, for 

15 the construction of access roads as authorized by section 

16 210 of title 23, United States Code, when projects author17 ized therein are certified as important to the national de18 fense by the Secretary of Defense. 

19 SEC. 104. None of the funds made available in this 

20 title may be used to begin construction of new bases in 

21 the United States for which specific appropriations have 

22 not been made. 

23 SEC. 105. None of the funds made available in this 

24 title shall be used for purchase of land or land easements 

25 in excess of 100 percent of the value as determined by 
10 

•S 1557 PCS

1 the Army Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engi2 neering Command, except: (1) where there is a determina3 tion of value by a Federal court; (2) purchases negotiated 

4 by the Attorney General or the designee of the Attorney 

5 General; (3) where the estimated value is less than 

6 $25,000; or (4) as otherwise determined by the Secretary 

7 of Defense to be in the public interest. 

8 SEC. 106. None of the funds made available in this 

9 title shall be used to: (1) acquire land; (2) provide for site 

10 preparation; or (3) install utilities for any family housing, 

11 except housing for which funds have been made available 

12 in annual Acts making appropriations for military con13 struction. 

14 SEC. 107. None of the funds made available in this 

15 title for minor construction may be used to transfer or 

16 relocate any activity from one base or installation to an17 other, without prior notification to the Committees on Ap18 propriations of both Houses of Congress. 

19 SEC. 108. None of the funds made available in this 

20 title may be used for the procurement of steel for any con21 struction project or activity for which American steel pro22 ducers, fabricators, and manufacturers have been denied 

23 the opportunity to compete for such steel procurement. 

24 SEC. 109. None of the funds available to the Depart25 ment of Defense for military construction or family hous-
11 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ing during the current fiscal year may be used to pay real 

2 property taxes in any foreign nation. 

3 SEC. 110. None of the funds made available in this 

4 title may be used to initiate a new installation overseas 

5 without prior notification to the Committees on Appro6 priations of both Houses of Congress. 

7 SEC. 111. None of the funds made available in this 

8 title may be obligated for architect and engineer contracts 

9 estimated by the Government to exceed $500,000 for 

10 projects to be accomplished in Japan, in any North Atlan11 tic Treaty Organization member country, or in countries 

12 bordering the Arabian Gulf, unless such contracts are 

13 awarded to United States firms or United States firms 

14 in joint venture with host nation firms. 

15 SEC. 112. None of the funds made available in this 

16 title for military construction in the United States terri17 tories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein 

18 Atoll, or in countries bordering the Arabian Gulf, may be 

19 used to award any contract estimated by the Government 

20 to exceed $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor: Provided, 

21 That this section shall not be applicable to contract 

22 awards for which the lowest responsive and responsible bid 

23 of a United States contractor exceeds the lowest respon24 sive and responsible bid of a foreign contractor by greater 

25 than 20 percent: Provided further, That this section shall 
12 

•S 1557 PCS

1 not apply to contract awards for military construction on 

2 Kwajalein Atoll for which the lowest responsive and re3 sponsible bid is submitted by a Marshallese contractor. 

4 SEC. 113. The Secretary of Defense shall inform the 

5 appropriate committees of both Houses of Congress, in6 cluding the Committees on Appropriations, of plans and 

7 scope of any proposed military exercise involving United 

8 States personnel 30 days prior to its occurring, if amounts 

9 expended for construction, either temporary or permanent, 

10 are anticipated to exceed $100,000. 

11 SEC. 114. Funds appropriated to the Department of 

12 Defense for construction in prior years shall be available 

13 for construction authorized for each such military depart14 ment by the authorizations enacted into law during the 

15 current session of Congress. 

16 SEC. 115. For military construction or family housing 

17 projects that are being completed with funds otherwise ex18 pired or lapsed for obligation, expired or lapsed funds may 

19 be used to pay the cost of associated supervision, inspec20 tion, overhead, engineering and design on those projects 

21 and on subsequent claims, if any. 

22 SEC. 116. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

23 law, any funds made available to a military department 

24 or defense agency for the construction of military projects 

25 may be obligated for a military construction project or 
13 

•S 1557 PCS

1 contract, or for any portion of such a project or contract, 

2 at any time before the end of the fourth fiscal year after 

3 the fiscal year for which funds for such project were made 

4 available, if the funds obligated for such project: (1) are 

5 obligated from funds available for military construction 

6 projects; and (2) do not exceed the amount appropriated 

7 for such project, plus any amount by which the cost of 

8 such project is increased pursuant to law. 

9 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

10 SEC. 117. Subject to 30 days prior notification, or 

11 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic me12 dium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, 

13 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 

14 of both Houses of Congress, such additional amounts as 

15 may be determined by the Secretary of Defense may be 

16 transferred to: (1) the Department of Defense Family 

17 Housing Improvement Fund from amounts appropriated 

18 for construction in ‘‘Family Housing’’ accounts, to be 

19 merged with and to be available for the same purposes 

20 and for the same period of time as amounts appropriated 

21 directly to the Fund; or (2) the Department of Defense 

22 Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund 

23 from amounts appropriated for construction of military 

24 unaccompanied housing in ‘‘Military Construction’’ ac25 counts, to be merged with and to be available for the same 
14 

•S 1557 PCS

1 purposes and for the same period of time as amounts ap2 propriated directly to the Fund: Provided, That appropria3 tions made available to the Funds shall be available to 

4 cover the costs, as defined in section 502(5) of the Con5 gressional Budget Act of 1974, of direct loans or loan 

6 guarantees issued by the Department of Defense pursuant 

7 to the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 

8 10, United States Code, pertaining to alternative means 

9 of acquiring and improving military family housing, mili10 tary unaccompanied housing, and supporting facilities. 

11 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

12 SEC. 118. In addition to any other transfer authority 

13 available to the Department of Defense, amounts may be 

14 transferred from the Department of Defense Base Closure 

15 Account to the fund established by section 1013(d) of the 

16 Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act 

17 of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 3374) to pay for expenses associated 

18 with the Homeowners Assistance Program incurred under 

19 42 U.S.C. 3374(a)(1)(A). Any amounts transferred shall 

20 be merged with and be available for the same purposes 

21 and for the same time period as the fund to which trans22 ferred. 

23 SEC. 119. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

24 law, funds made available in this title for operation and 

25 maintenance of family housing shall be the exclusive 
15 

•S 1557 PCS

1 source of funds for repair and maintenance of all family 

2 housing units, including general or flag officer quarters: 

3 Provided, That not more than $35,000 per unit may be 

4 spent annually for the maintenance and repair of any gen5 eral or flag officer quarters without 30 days prior notifica6 tion, or 14 days for a notification provided in an electronic 

7 medium pursuant to sections 480 and 2883 of title 10, 

8 United States Code, to the Committees on Appropriations 

9 of both Houses of Congress, except that an after-the-fact 

10 notification shall be submitted if the limitation is exceeded 

11 solely due to costs associated with environmental remedi12 ation that could not be reasonably anticipated at the time 

13 of the budget submission: Provided further, That the 

14 Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is to report an15 nually to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

16 Houses of Congress all operation and maintenance ex17 penditures for each individual general or flag officer quar18 ters for the prior fiscal year. 

19 SEC. 120. Amounts contained in the Ford Island Im20 provement Account established by subsection (h) of sec21 tion 2814 of title 10, United States Code, are appro22 priated and shall be available until expended for the pur23 poses specified in subsection (i)(1) of such section or until 

24 transferred pursuant to subsection (i)(3) of such section. 
16 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 121. During the 5-year period after appropria3 tions available in this Act to the Department of Defense 

4 for military construction and family housing operation and 

5 maintenance and construction have expired for obligation, 

6 upon a determination that such appropriations will not be 

7 necessary for the liquidation of obligations or for making 

8 authorized adjustments to such appropriations for obliga9 tions incurred during the period of availability of such ap10 propriations, unobligated balances of such appropriations 

11 may be transferred into the appropriation ‘‘Foreign Cur12 rency Fluctuations, Construction, Defense’’, to be merged 

13 with and to be available for the same time period and for 

14 the same purposes as the appropriation to which trans15 ferred. 

16 SEC. 122. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 

17 available in an account funded under the headings in this 

18 title may be transferred among projects and activities 

19 within the account in accordance with the reprogramming 

20 guidelines for military construction and family housing 

21 construction contained in Department of Defense Finan22 cial Management Regulation 7000.14–R, Volume 3, Chap23 ter 7, of March 2011, as in effect on the date of enactment 

24 of this Act. 
17 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 123. None of the funds made available in this 

2 title may be obligated or expended for planning and design 

3 and construction of projects at Arlington National Ceme4 tery. 

5 SEC. 124. For the purposes of this Act, the term 

6 ‘‘congressional defense committees’’ means the Commit7 tees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives 

8 and the Senate, the Subcommittee on Military Construc9 tion and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on Appropria10 tions of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Military 

11 Construction and Veterans Affairs of the Committee on 

12 Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 

13 SEC. 125. For an additional amount for the accounts 

14 and in the amounts specified, to remain available until 

15 September 30, 2022: 

16 ‘‘Military Construction, Army’’, $68,800,000; 

17 ‘‘Military Construction, Navy and Marine 

18 Corps’’, $110,100,000; 

19 ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force’’, 

20 $127,300,000; 

21 ‘‘Military Construction, Army National Guard’’, 

22 $83,500,000; 

23 ‘‘Military Construction, Air National Guard’’, 

24 $24,000,000; 
18 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ‘‘Military Construction, Army Reserve’’, 

2 $30,000,000; 

3 ‘‘Military Construction, Air Force Reserve’’, 

4 $35,100,000: 

5 Provided, That such funds may only be obligated to carry 

6 out construction projects identified in the respective mili7 tary department’s unfunded priority list for fiscal year 

8 2018 submitted to Congress: Provided further, That such 

9 projects are subject to authorization prior to obligation 

10 and expenditure of funds to carry out construction: Pro11 vided further, That not later than 30 days after enactment 

12 of this Act, the Secretary of the military department con13 cerned, or his or her designee, shall submit to the Commit14 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress an ex15 penditure plan for funds provided under this section. 

16 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

17 SEC. 126. Of the unobligated balances available for 

18 ‘‘Military Construction, Defense-Wide’’, from prior appro19 priations Acts (other than appropriations designated by 

20 law as being for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global 

21 War on Terrorism or as an emergency requirement pursu22 ant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Bal23 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, 

24 as amended), $14,703,000 are hereby rescinded. 
19 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 127. None of the funds made available by this 

2 Act may be used to carry out the closure or realignment 

3 of the United States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, 

4 Cuba. 

5 SEC. 128. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

6 law, none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 

7 available by this or any other Act may be used to consoli8 date or relocate any element of a United States Air Force 

9 Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair 

10 Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) outside of the United 

11 States until the Secretary of the Air Force (1) completes 

12 an analysis and comparison of the cost and infrastructure 

13 investment required to consolidate or relocate a RED 

14 HORSE squadron outside of the United States versus 

15 within the United States; (2) provides to the Committees 

16 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress (‘‘the Com17 mittees’’) a report detailing the findings of the cost anal18 ysis; and (3) certifies in writing to the Committees that 

19 the preferred site for the consolidation or relocation yields 

20 the greatest savings for the Air Force: Provided, That the 

21 term ‘‘United States’’ in this section does not include any 

22 territory or possession of the United States. 
20 

•S 1557 PCS

1 TITLE II 

2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

3 VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

4 COMPENSATION AND PENSIONS

5 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

6 For the payment of compensation benefits to or on 

7 behalf of veterans and a pilot program for disability ex8 aminations as authorized by section 107 and chapters 11, 

9 13, 18, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code; 

10 pension benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized 

11 by chapters 15, 51, 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United 

12 States Code; and burial benefits, the Reinstated Entitle13 ment Program for Survivors, emergency and other offi14 cers’ retirement pay, adjusted-service credits and certifi15 cates, payment of premiums due on commercial life insur16 ance policies guaranteed under the provisions of title IV 

17 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 

18 541 et seq.) and for other benefits as authorized by sec19 tions 107, 1312, 1977, and 2106, and chapters 23, 51, 

20 53, 55, and 61 of title 38, United States Code, 

21 $95,769,000,000, to remain available until expended and 

22 to become available on October 1, 2018: Provided, That 

23 not to exceed $18,000,000 of the amount made available 

24 for fiscal year 2019 under this heading shall be reim25 bursed to ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Bene-
21 

•S 1557 PCS

1 fits Administration’’, and ‘‘Information Technology Sys2 tems’’ for necessary expenses in implementing the provi3 sions of chapters 51, 53, and 55 of title 38, United States 

4 Code, the funding source for which is specifically provided 

5 as the ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’ appropriation: Pro6 vided further, That such sums as may be earned on an 

7 actual qualifying patient basis, shall be reimbursed to 

8 ‘‘Medical Care Collections Fund’’ to augment the funding 

9 of individual medical facilities for nursing home care pro10 vided to pensioners as authorized. 

11 READJUSTMENT BENEFITS

12 For the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation 

13 benefits to or on behalf of veterans as authorized by chap14 ters 21, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 51, 53, 55, and 

15 61 of title 38, United States Code, $11,832,000,000, to 

16 remain available until expended and to become available 

17 on October 1, 2018: Provided, That expenses for rehabili18 tation program services and assistance which the Sec19 retary is authorized to provide under subsection (a) of sec20 tion 3104 of title 38, United States Code, other than 

21 under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (11) of that sub22 section, shall be charged to this account. 

23 VETERANS INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

24 For military and naval insurance, national service life 

25 insurance, servicemen’s indemnities, service-disabled vet-
22 

•S 1557 PCS

1 erans insurance, and veterans mortgage life insurance as 

2 authorized by chapters 19 and 21, title 38, United States 

3 Code, $122,000,000, to remain available until expended, 

4 of which $109,000,000 shall become available on October 

5 1, 2018. 

6 VETERANS HOUSING BENEFIT PROGRAM FUND

7 For the cost of direct and guaranteed loans, such 

8 sums as may be necessary to carry out the program, as 

9 authorized by subchapters I through III of chapter 37 of 

10 title 38, United States Code: Provided, That such costs, 

11 including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as de12 fined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

13 1974: Provided further, That, during fiscal year 2018, 

14 within the resources available, not to exceed $500,000 in 

15 gross obligations for direct loans are authorized for spe16 cially adapted housing loans. 

17 In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 

18 the direct and guaranteed loan programs, $178,626,000. 

19 VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

20 For the cost of direct loans, $30,000, as authorized 

21 by chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: Provided, 

22 That such costs, including the cost of modifying such 

23 loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres24 sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That funds 

25 made available under this heading are available to sub-
23 

•S 1557 PCS

1 sidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct 

2 loans not to exceed $2,356,000. 

3 In addition, for administrative expenses necessary to 

4 carry out the direct loan program, $395,000, which may 

5 be paid to the appropriation for ‘‘General Operating Ex6 penses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’. 

7 NATIVE AMERICAN VETERAN HOUSING LOAN PROGRAM

8 ACCOUNT

9 For administrative expenses to carry out the direct 

10 loan program authorized by subchapter V of chapter 37 

11 of title 38, United States Code, $1,163,000. 

12 GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES, VETERANS BENEFITS

13 ADMINISTRATION

14 For necessary operating expenses of the Veterans 

15 Benefits Administration, not otherwise provided for, in16 cluding hire of passenger motor vehicles, reimbursement 

17 of the General Services Administration for security guard 

18 services, and reimbursement of the Department of De19 fense for the cost of overseas employee mail, 

20 $2,910,000,000: Provided, That expenses for services and 

21 assistance authorized under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and 

22 (11) of section 3104(a) of title 38, United States Code, 

23 that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are nec24 essary to enable entitled veterans: (1) to the maximum ex25 tent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and 
24 

•S 1557 PCS

1 maintain suitable employment; or (2) to achieve maximum 

2 independence in daily living, shall be charged to this ac3 count: Provided further, That, of the funds made available 

4 under this heading, not to exceed 10 percent shall remain 

5 available until September 30, 2019. 

6 VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

7 MEDICAL SERVICES

8 For necessary expenses for furnishing, as authorized 

9 by law, inpatient and outpatient care and treatment to 

10 beneficiaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and 

11 veterans described in section 1705(a) of title 38, United 

12 States Code, including care and treatment in facilities not 

13 under the jurisdiction of the Department, and including 

14 medical supplies and equipment, bioengineering services, 

15 food services, and salaries and expenses of healthcare em16 ployees hired under title 38, United States Code, aid to 

17 State homes as authorized by section 1741 of title 38, 

18 United States Code, assistance and support services for 

19 caregivers as authorized by section 1720G of title 38, 

20 United States Code, loan repayments authorized by sec21 tion 604 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health 

22 Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 

23 1174; 38 U.S.C. 7681 note), and hospital care and med24 ical services authorized by section 1787 of title 38, United 

25 States Code; $1,923,000,000, which shall be in addition 
25 

•S 1557 PCS

1 to funds previously appropriated under this heading that 

2 become available on October 1, 2017; and, in addition, 

3 $49,161,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become 

4 available on October 1, 2018, and shall remain available 

5 until September 30, 2019: Provided, That, of the amount 

6 made available on October 1, 2018, under this heading, 

7 not to exceed 5 percent shall remain available until Sep8 tember 30, 2020: Provided further, That, notwithstanding 

9 any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Af10 fairs shall establish a priority for the provision of medical 

11 treatment for veterans who have service-connected disabil12 ities, lower income, or have special needs: Provided further, 

13 That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec14 retary of Veterans Affairs shall give priority funding for 

15 the provision of basic medical benefits to veterans in en16 rollment priority groups 1 through 6: Provided further, 

17 That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec18 retary of Veterans Affairs may authorize the dispensing 

19 of prescription drugs from Veterans Health Administra20 tion facilities to enrolled veterans with privately written 

21 prescriptions based on requirements established by the 

22 Secretary: Provided further, That the implementation of 

23 the program described in the previous proviso shall incur 

24 no additional cost to the Department of Veterans Affairs: 

25 Provided further, That the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
26 

•S 1557 PCS

1 shall ensure that sufficient amounts appropriated under 

2 this heading for medical supplies and equipment are avail3 able for the acquisition of prosthetics designed specifically 

4 for female veterans. 

5 MEDICAL COMMUNITY CARE

6 For necessary expenses for furnishing health care to 

7 individuals pursuant to chapter 17 of title 38, United 

8 States Code, at non-Department facilities, $254,000,000, 

9 which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated 

10 under this heading that become available on October 1, 

11 2017; and, in addition, $8,385,000,000, plus reimburse12 ments shall become available on October 1, 2018, and 

13 shall remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, 

14 That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2018 

15 under this heading, $2,000,000,000 shall remain available 

16 until September 30, 2022. 

17 MEDICAL SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE

18 For necessary expenses in the administration of the 

19 medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, 

20 supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; ad21 ministrative expenses in support of capital policy activi22 ties; and administrative and legal expenses of the Depart23 ment for collecting and recovering amounts owed the De24 partment as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, 

25 United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recov-
27 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $100,000,000, which 

2 shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under 

3 this heading that become available on October 1, 2017; 

4 and, in addition, $7,239,000,000, plus reimbursements, 

5 shall become available on October 1, 2018, and shall re6 main available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That, 

7 of the amount made available on October 1, 2018, under 

8 this heading, not to exceed 5 percent shall remain avail9 able until September 30, 2020. 

10 MEDICAL FACILITIES

11 For necessary expenses for the maintenance and op12 eration of hospitals, nursing homes, domiciliary facilities, 

13 and other necessary facilities of the Veterans Health Ad14 ministration; for administrative expenses in support of 

15 planning, design, project management, real property ac16 quisition and disposition, construction, and renovation of 

17 any facility under the jurisdiction or for the use of the 

18 Department; for oversight, engineering, and architectural 

19 activities not charged to project costs; for repairing, alter20 ing, improving, or providing facilities in the several hos21 pitals and homes under the jurisdiction of the Depart22 ment, not otherwise provided for, either by contract or by 

23 the hire of temporary employees and purchase of mate24 rials; for leases of facilities; and for laundry services; 

25 $707,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds pre-
28 

•S 1557 PCS

1 viously appropriated under this heading that become avail2 able on October 1, 2017; and, in addition, 

3 $5,915,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become avail4 able on October 1, 2018, and shall remain available until 

5 September 30, 2019: Provided, That, of the amount made 

6 available on October 1, 2018, under this heading, not to 

7 exceed 5 percent shall remain available until September 

8 30, 2020. 

9 MEDICAL AND PROSTHETIC RESEARCH

10 For necessary expenses in carrying out programs of 

11 medical and prosthetic research and development as au12 thorized by chapter 73 of title 38, United States Code, 

13 $722,262,000, plus reimbursements, shall remain avail14 able until September 30, 2019: Provided, That the Sec15 retary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that sufficient 

16 amounts appropriated under this heading are available for 

17 prosthetic research specifically for female veterans, and 

18 for toxic exposure research. 

19 NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION

20 For necessary expenses of the National Cemetery Ad21 ministration for operations and maintenance, not other22 wise provided for, including uniforms or allowances there23 for; cemeterial expenses as authorized by law; purchase 

24 of one passenger motor vehicle for use in cemeterial oper25 ations; hire of passenger motor vehicles; and repair, alter-
29 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ation or improvement of facilities under the jurisdiction 

2 of the National Cemetery Administration, $306,193,000, 

3 of which not to exceed 10 percent shall remain available 

4 until September 30, 2019. 

5 DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION

6 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

7 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

8 For necessary operating expenses of the Department 

9 of Veterans Affairs, not otherwise provided for, including 

10 administrative expenses in support of Department-wide 

11 capital planning, management and policy activities, uni12 forms, or allowances therefor; not to exceed $25,000 for 

13 official reception and representation expenses; hire of pas14 senger motor vehicles; and reimbursement of the General 

15 Services Administration for security guard services, 

16 $329,891,000, of which not to exceed 10 percent shall re17 main available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That 

18 funds provided under this heading may be transferred to 

19 ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Adminis20 tration’’. 

21 BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS

22 For necessary operating expenses of the Board of 

23 Veterans Appeals, $166,000,000, of which not to exceed 

24 10 percent shall remain available until September 30, 

25 2019. 
30 

•S 1557 PCS

1 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

2 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

3 For necessary expenses for information technology 

4 systems and telecommunications support, including devel5 opmental information systems and operational information 

6 systems; for pay and associated costs; and for the capital 

7 asset acquisition of information technology systems, in8 cluding management and related contractual costs of said 

9 acquisitions, including contractual costs associated with 

10 operations authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United 

11 States Code, $4,055,500,000, plus reimbursements: Pro12 vided, That $1,230,320,000 shall be for pay and associ13 ated costs, of which not to exceed 5 percent shall remain 

14 available until September 30, 2019: Provided further, That 

15 $2,466,650,000 shall be for operations and maintenance, 

16 of which not to exceed 5 percent shall remain available 

17 until September 30, 2019: Provided further, That 

18 $358,530,000 shall be for information technology systems 

19 development, and shall remain available until September 

20 30, 2019: Provided further, That amounts made available 

21 for information technology systems development may not 

22 be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Veterans 

23 Affairs or the Chief Information Officer of the Depart24 ment of Veterans Affairs submits to the Committees on 

25 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a certification 
31 

•S 1557 PCS

1 of the amounts, in parts or in full, to be obligated and 

2 expended for each development project: Provided further, 

3 That amounts made available for salaries and expenses, 

4 operations and maintenance, and information technology 

5 systems development may be transferred among the three 

6 subaccounts after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs re7 quests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 

8 Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer 

9 and an approval is issued: Provided further, That amounts 

10 made available for the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ 

11 account for development may be transferred among 

12 projects or to newly defined projects: Provided further, 

13 That no project may be increased or decreased by more 

14 than $3,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to 

15 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con16 gress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, or 

17 absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed: Pro18 vided further, That funds under this heading may be used 

19 by the Interagency Program Office through the Depart20 ment of Veterans Affairs to define data standards, code 

21 sets, and value sets used to enable interoperability: Pro22 vided further, That the funds made available under this 

23 heading for information technology systems development 

24 shall be for the projects, and in the amounts, specified 

25 under this heading in the report accompanying this Act. 
32 

•S 1557 PCS

1 OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

2 For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector 

3 General, to include information technology, in carrying out 

4 the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 

5 U.S.C. App.), $164,000,000, of which not to exceed 10 

6 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2019. 

7 CONSTRUCTION, MAJOR PROJECTS

8 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

9 any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the 

10 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

11 Affairs, or for any of the purposes set forth in sections 

12 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, United States 

13 Code, not otherwise provided for, including planning, ar14 chitectural and engineering services, construction manage15 ment services, maintenance or guarantee period services 

16 costs associated with equipment guarantees provided 

17 under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite utility 

18 and storm drainage system construction costs, and site ac19 quisition, where the estimated cost of a project is more 

20 than the amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 

21 38, United States Code, or where funds for a project were 

22 made available in a previous major project appropriation, 

23 $512,430,000, of which $432,430,000 shall remain avail24 able until September 30, 2022, and of which $80,000,000 

25 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That ex-
33 

•S 1557 PCS

1 cept for advance planning activities, including needs as2 sessments which may or may not lead to capital invest3 ments, and other capital asset management related activi4 ties, including portfolio development and management ac5 tivities, and investment strategy studies funded through 

6 the advance planning fund and the planning and design 

7 activities funded through the design fund, including needs 

8 assessments which may or may not lead to capital invest9 ments, and salaries and associated costs of the resident 

10 engineers who oversee those capital investments funded 

11 through this account and contracting officers who manage 

12 specific major construction projects, and funds provided 

13 for the purchase, security, and maintenance of land for 

14 the National Cemetery Administration through the land 

15 acquisition line item, none of the funds made available 

16 under this heading shall be used for any project that has 

17 not been notified to Congress through the budgetary proc18 ess or that has not been approved by the Congress through 

19 statute, joint resolution, or in the explanatory statement 

20 accompanying such Act and presented to the President at 

21 the time of enrollment: Provided further, That funds made 

22 available under this heading for fiscal year 2018, for each 

23 approved project shall be obligated: (1) by the awarding 

24 of a construction documents contract by September 30, 

25 2018; and (2) by the awarding of a construction contract 
34 

•S 1557 PCS

1 by September 30, 2019: Provided further, That the Sec2 retary of Veterans Affairs shall promptly submit to the 

3 Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 

4 a written report on any approved major construction 

5 project for which obligations are not incurred within the 

6 time limitations established above. 

7 CONSTRUCTION, MINOR PROJECTS

8 For constructing, altering, extending, and improving 

9 any of the facilities, including parking projects, under the 

10 jurisdiction or for the use of the Department of Veterans 

11 Affairs, including planning and assessments of needs 

12 which may lead to capital investments, architectural and 

13 engineering services, maintenance or guarantee period 

14 services costs associated with equipment guarantees pro15 vided under the project, services of claims analysts, offsite 

16 utility and storm drainage system construction costs, and 

17 site acquisition, or for any of the purposes set forth in 

18 sections 316, 2404, 2406 and chapter 81 of title 38, 

19 United States Code, not otherwise provided for, where the 

20 estimated cost of a project is equal to or less than the 

21 amount set forth in section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, 

22 United States Code, $342,570,000, to remain available 

23 until September 30, 2022, along with unobligated balances 

24 of previous ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ appropriations 

25 which are hereby made available for any project where the 
35 

•S 1557 PCS

1 estimated cost is equal to or less than the amount set forth 

2 in such section: Provided, That funds made available 

3 under this heading shall be for: (1) repairs to any of the 

4 nonmedical facilities under the jurisdiction or for the use 

5 of the Department which are necessary because of loss or 

6 damage caused by any natural disaster or catastrophe; 

7 and (2) temporary measures necessary to prevent or to 

8 minimize further loss by such causes. 

9 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF

10 STATE EXTENDED CARE FACILITIES

11 For grants to assist States to acquire or construct 

12 State nursing home and domiciliary facilities and to re13 model, modify, or alter existing hospital, nursing home, 

14 and domiciliary facilities in State homes, for furnishing 

15 care to veterans as authorized by sections 8131 through 

16 8137 of title 38, United States Code, $110,000,000, to 

17 remain available until expended. 

18 GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF VETERANS CEMETERIES

19 For grants to assist States and tribal organizations 

20 in establishing, expanding, or improving veterans ceme21 teries as authorized by section 2408 of title 38, United 

22 States Code, $45,000,000, to remain available until ex23 pended. 
36 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

2 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

3 SEC. 201. Any appropriation for fiscal year 2018 for 

4 ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 

5 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ may be trans6 ferred as necessary to any other of the mentioned appro7 priations: Provided, That, before a transfer may take 

8 place, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall request from 

9 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con10 gress the authority to make the transfer and such Com11 mittees issue an approval, or absent a response, a period 

12 of 30 days has elapsed. 

13 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

14 SEC. 202. Amounts made available for the Depart15 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2018, in this or 

16 any other Act, under the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical 

17 Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, 

18 and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’ accounts may be transferred 

19 among the accounts: Provided, That any transfers among 

20 the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, and 

21 ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ accounts of 1 percent 

22 or less of the total amount appropriated to the account 

23 in this or any other Act may take place subject to notifica24 tion from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Com25 mittees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress of 
37 

•S 1557 PCS

1 the amount and purpose of the transfer: Provided further, 

2 That any transfers among the ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Med3 ical Community Care’’, and ‘‘Medical Support and Compli4 ance’’ accounts in excess of 1 percent, or exceeding the 

5 cumulative 1 percent for the fiscal year, may take place 

6 only after the Secretary requests from the Committees on 

7 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the authority 

8 to make the transfer and an approval is issued: Provided 

9 further, That any transfers to or from the ‘‘Medical Facili10 ties’’ account may take place only after the Secretary re11 quests from the Committees on Appropriations of both 

12 Houses of Congress the authority to make the transfer 

13 and an approval is issued. 

14 SEC. 203. Appropriations available in this title for 

15 salaries and expenses shall be available for services au16 thorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; 

17 hire of passenger motor vehicles; lease of a facility or land 

18 or both; and uniforms or allowances therefore, as author19 ized by sections 5901 through 5902 of title 5, United 

20 States Code. 

21 SEC. 204. No appropriations in this title (except the 

22 appropriations for ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’, and 

23 ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’) shall be available for the 

24 purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any 

25 new hospital or home. 
38 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 205. No appropriations in this title shall be 

2 available for hospitalization or examination of any persons 

3 (except beneficiaries entitled to such hospitalization or ex4 amination under the laws providing such benefits to vet5 erans, and persons receiving such treatment under sec6 tions 7901 through 7904 of title 5, United States Code, 

7 or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

8 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)), unless reim9 bursement of the cost of such hospitalization or examina10 tion is made to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account at such 

11 rates as may be fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

12 SEC. 206. Appropriations available in this title for 

13 ‘‘Compensation and Pensions’’, ‘‘Readjustment Benefits’’, 

14 and ‘‘Veterans Insurance and Indemnities’’ shall be avail15 able for payment of prior year accrued obligations re16 quired to be recorded by law against the corresponding 

17 prior year accounts within the last quarter of fiscal year 

18 2017. 

19 SEC. 207. Appropriations available in this title shall 

20 be available to pay prior year obligations of corresponding 

21 prior year appropriations accounts resulting from sections 

22 3328(a), 3334, and 3712(a) of title 31, United States 

23 Code, except that if such obligations are from trust fund 

24 accounts they shall be payable only from ‘‘Compensation 

25 and Pensions’’. 
39 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 208. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

3 law, during fiscal year 2018, the Secretary of Veterans 

4 Affairs shall, from the National Service Life Insurance 

5 Fund under section 1920 of title 38, United States Code, 

6 the Veterans’ Special Life Insurance Fund under section 

7 1923 of title 38, United States Code, and the United 

8 States Government Life Insurance Fund under section 

9 1955 of title 38, United States Code, reimburse the ‘‘Gen10 eral Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administra11 tion’’ and ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ accounts for 

12 the cost of administration of the insurance programs fi13 nanced through those accounts: Provided, That reimburse14 ment shall be made only from the surplus earnings accu15 mulated in such an insurance program during fiscal year 

16 2018 that are available for dividends in that program after 

17 claims have been paid and actuarially determined reserves 

18 have been set aside: Provided further, That if the cost of 

19 administration of such an insurance program exceeds the 

20 amount of surplus earnings accumulated in that program, 

21 reimbursement shall be made only to the extent of such 

22 surplus earnings: Provided further, That the Secretary 

23 shall determine the cost of administration for fiscal year 

24 2018 which is properly allocable to the provision of each 

25 such insurance program and to the provision of any total 
40 

•S 1557 PCS

1 disability income insurance included in that insurance pro2 gram. 

3 SEC. 209. Amounts deducted from enhanced-use 

4 lease proceeds to reimburse an account for expenses in5 curred by that account during a prior fiscal year for pro6 viding enhanced-use lease services, may be obligated dur7 ing the fiscal year in which the proceeds are received. 

8 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

9 SEC. 210. Funds available in this title or funds for 

10 salaries and other administrative expenses shall also be 

11 available to reimburse the Office of Resolution Manage12 ment, the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint 

13 Adjudication, the Office of Accountability and Whistle14 blower Protection, and the Office of Diversity and Inclu15 sion for all services provided at rates which will recover 

16 actual costs but not to exceed $47,700,000 for the Office 

17 of Resolution Management, $4,000,000 for the Office of 

18 Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication, 

19 $17,700,000 for the Office of Accountability and Whistle20 blower Protection, and $3,000,000 for the Office of Diver21 sity and Inclusion: Provided, That payments may be made 

22 in advance for services to be furnished based on estimated 

23 costs: Provided further, That amounts received shall be 

24 credited to the ‘‘General Administration’’ and ‘‘Informa-
41 

•S 1557 PCS

1 tion Technology Systems’’ accounts for use by the office 

2 that provided the service. 

3 SEC. 211. No funds of the Department of Veterans 

4 Affairs shall be available for hospital care, nursing home 

5 care, or medical services provided to any person under 

6 chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, for a non-serv7 ice-connected disability described in section 1729(a)(2) of 

8 such title, unless that person has disclosed to the Sec9 retary of Veterans Affairs, in such form as the Secretary 

10 may require, current, accurate third-party reimbursement 

11 information for purposes of section 1729 of such title: Pro12 vided, That the Secretary may recover, in the same man13 ner as any other debt due the United States, the reason14 able charges for such care or services from any person who 

15 does not make such disclosure as required: Provided fur16 ther, That any amounts so recovered for care or services 

17 provided in a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the 

18 Secretary during the fiscal year in which amounts are re19 ceived. 

20 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

21 SEC. 212. Notwithstanding any other provision of 

22 law, proceeds or revenues derived from enhanced-use leas23 ing activities (including disposal) may be deposited into 

24 the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Construction, 

25 Minor Projects’’ accounts and be used for construction 
42 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (including site acquisition and disposition), alterations, 

2 and improvements of any medical facility under the juris3 diction or for the use of the Department of Veterans Af4 fairs. Such sums as realized are in addition to the amount 

5 provided for in ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and ‘‘Con6 struction, Minor Projects’’. 

7 SEC. 213. Amounts made available under ‘‘Medical 

8 Services’’ are available— 

9 (1) for furnishing recreational facilities, sup10 plies, and equipment; and 

11 (2) for funeral expenses, burial expenses, and 

12 other expenses incidental to funerals and burials for 

13 beneficiaries receiving care in the Department. 

14 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

15 SEC. 214. Such sums as may be deposited to the 

16 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

17 of title 38, United States Code, may be transferred to the 

18 ‘‘Medical Services’’ and ‘‘Medical Community Care’’ ac19 counts to remain available until expended for the purposes 

20 of these accounts. 

21 SEC. 215. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

22 enter into agreements with Federally Qualified Health 

23 Centers in the State of Alaska and Indian tribes and tribal 

24 organizations which are party to the Alaska Native Health 

25 Compact with the Indian Health Service, to provide health 
43 

•S 1557 PCS

1 care, including behavioral health and dental care, to vet2 erans in rural Alaska. The Secretary shall require partici3 pating veterans and facilities to comply with all appro4 priate rules and regulations, as established by the Sec5 retary. The term ‘‘rural Alaska’’ shall mean those lands 

6 which are not within the boundaries of the municipality 

7 of Anchorage or the Fairbanks North Star Borough. 

8 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

9 SEC. 216. Such sums as may be deposited to the De10 partment of Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund pursu11 ant to section 8118 of title 38, United States Code, may 

12 be transferred to the ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ and 

13 ‘‘Construction, Minor Projects’’ accounts, to remain avail14 able until expended for the purposes of these accounts. 

15 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

16 SEC. 217. Of the unobligated balance of funds made 

17 available in the sixth proviso under the heading ‘‘Depart18 ment of Veterans Affairs—Veterans Health Administra19 tion—Medical Services’’ in title II of Division J of the 

20 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114– 

21 113), $751,000,000 is hereby rescinded. 

22 SEC. 218. Not later than 30 days after the end of 

23 each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

24 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

25 Houses of Congress a report on the financial status of the 
44 

•S 1557 PCS

1 Department of Veterans Affairs for the preceding quarter: 

2 Provided, That, at a minimum, the report shall include 

3 the direction contained in the paragraph entitled ‘‘Quar4 terly reporting’’, under the heading ‘‘General Administra5 tion’’ in the joint explanatory statement accompanying 

6 this Act. 

7 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

8 SEC. 219. Amounts made available under the ‘‘Med9 ical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical Sup10 port and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘General Op11 erating Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’, 

12 ‘‘General Administration’’, and ‘‘National Cemetery Ad13 ministration’’ accounts for fiscal year 2018 may be trans14 ferred to or from the ‘‘Information Technology Systems’’ 

15 account: Provided, That such transfers may not result in 

16 a more than 10 percent aggregate increase in the total 

17 amount made available by this Act for the ‘‘Information 

18 Technology Systems’’ account: Provided further, That, be19 fore a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans 

20 Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appropria21 tions of both Houses of Congress the authority to make 

22 the transfer and an approval is issued. 

23 SEC. 220. None of the funds appropriated or other24 wise made available by this Act or any other Act for the 

25 Department of Veterans Affairs may be used in a manner 
45 

•S 1557 PCS

1 that is inconsistent with: (1) section 842 of the Transpor2 tation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the 

3 Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent 

4 Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109–115; 

5 119 Stat. 2506); or (2) section 8110(a)(5) of title 38, 

6 United States Code. 

7 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

8 SEC. 221. Of the amounts appropriated to the De9 partment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2018 for 

10 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 

11 Support and Compliance’’, ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, ‘‘Con12 struction, Minor Projects’’, and ‘‘Information Technology 

13 Systems’’, up to $298,000,000, plus reimbursements, may 

14 be transferred to the Joint Department of Defense—De15 partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstra16 tion Fund, established by section 1704 of the National De17 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 

18 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used for operation 

19 of the facilities designated as combined Federal medical 

20 facilities as described by section 706 of the Duncan 

21 Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

22 Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Pro23 vided, That additional funds may be transferred from ac24 counts designated in this section to the Joint Department 

25 of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Fa-
46 

•S 1557 PCS

1 cility Demonstration Fund upon written notification by 

2 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Committees on 

3 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress: Provided fur4 ther, That section 222 of title II of division A of Public 

5 Law 114–223 is repealed. 

6 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

7 SEC. 222. Of the amounts appropriated to the De8 partment of Veterans Affairs which become available on 

9 October 1, 2018, for ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Com10 munity Care’’, ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’, and 

11 ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, up to $307,000,000, plus reimburse12 ments, may be transferred to the Joint Department of De13 fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 

14 Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 

15 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

16 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571) and may be used 

17 for operation of the facilities designated as combined Fed18 eral medical facilities as described by section 706 of the 

19 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 

20 Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): 

21 Provided, That additional funds may be transferred from 

22 accounts designated in this section to the Joint Depart23 ment of Defense—Department of Veterans Affairs Med24 ical Facility Demonstration Fund upon written notifica-
47 

•S 1557 PCS

1 tion by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to the Commit2 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

3 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

4 SEC. 223. Such sums as may be deposited to the 

5 Medical Care Collections Fund pursuant to section 1729A 

6 of title 38, United States Code, for health care provided 

7 at facilities designated as combined Federal medical facili8 ties as described by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter 

9 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 

10 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500) shall also be avail11 able: (1) for transfer to the Joint Department of De12 fense—Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 

13 Demonstration Fund, established by section 1704 of the 

14 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

15 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 3571); and (2) for oper16 ations of the facilities designated as combined Federal 

17 medical facilities as described by section 706 of the Dun18 can Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

19 Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500): Pro20 vided, That, notwithstanding section 1704(b)(3) of the 

21 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 

22 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), amounts trans23 ferred to the Joint Department of Defense—Department 

24 of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstration Fund 

25 shall remain available until expended. 
48 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 224. Of the amounts available in this title for 

3 ‘‘Medical Services’’, ‘‘Medical Community Care’’, ‘‘Medical 

4 Support and Compliance’’, and ‘‘Medical Facilities’’, a 

5 minimum of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the 

6 DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund, as au7 thorized by section 8111(d) of title 38, United States 

8 Code, to remain available until expended, for any purpose 

9 authorized by section 8111 of title 38, United States Code. 

10 SEC. 225. The Committee directs the Department to 

11 make every effort to fund State Veterans Nursing Home 

12 Construction grants for those projects included on the VA 

13 State Home Construction Grants Priority List for fiscal 

14 year 2017. 

15 SEC. 226. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall no16 tify the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

17 Congress of all bid savings in a major construction project 

18 that total at least $10,000,000, or 5 percent of the pro19 grammed amount of the project, whichever is less: Pro20 vided, That such notification shall occur within 14 days 

21 of a contract identifying the programmed amount: Pro22 vided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Commit23 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress 14 

24 days prior to the obligation of such bid savings and shall 

25 describe the anticipated use of such savings. 
49 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 227. None of the funds made available for 

2 ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ may be used for a project 

3 in excess of the scope specified for that project in the origi4 nal justification data provided to the Congress as part of 

5 the request for appropriations unless the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs receives approval from the Committees on 

7 Appropriations of both Houses of Congress. 

8 SEC. 228. Not later than 30 days after the end of 

9 each fiscal quarter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

10 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

11 Houses of Congress a quarterly report containing perform12 ance measures and data from each Veterans Benefits Ad13 ministration Regional Office: Provided, That, at a min14 imum, the report shall include the direction contained in 

15 the section entitled ‘‘Disability claims backlog’’, under the 

16 heading ‘‘General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits 

17 Administration’’ in the joint explanatory statement accom18 panying this Act. 

19 SEC. 229. Of the funds provided to the Department 

20 of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2018 for ‘‘Medical Sup21 port and Compliance’’ a maximum of $40,000,000 may 

22 be obligated from the ‘‘Medical Support and Compliance’’ 

23 account for the VistA Evolution and electronic health 

24 record interoperability projects: Provided, That funds in 

25 addition to these amounts may be obligated for the VistA 
50 

•S 1557 PCS

1 Evolution and electronic health record interoperability 

2 projects upon written notification by the Secretary of Vet3 erans Affairs to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

4 Houses of Congress. 

5 SEC. 230. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

6 provide written notification to the Committees on Appro7 priations of both Houses of Congress 15 days prior to or8 ganizational changes which result in the transfer of 25 or 

9 more full-time equivalents from one organizational unit of 

10 the Department of Veterans Affairs to another. 

11 SEC. 231. Of the funds provided under the heading 

12 ‘‘Medical Facilities’’ for fiscal year 2018 including funds 

13 previously appropriated under the same heading in ad14 vance for fiscal year 2018 in Public Law 114–223, no less 

15 than $1,870,000,000, shall be for non-recurring mainte16 nance: Provided, That the authorities contained in section 

17 202 of this Act shall apply to such funds. 

18 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

19 SEC. 232. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, upon 

20 determination that such action is necessary to address 

21 needs of the Veterans Health Administration, may trans22 fer to the ‘‘Medical Services’’ account any discretionary 

23 appropriations made available for fiscal year 2018 in this 

24 title or any discretionary unobligated balances within the 

25 Department of Veterans Affairs, including those appro-
51 

•S 1557 PCS

1 priated for fiscal year 2018, that were provided in advance 

2 by appropriations Acts: Provided, That transfers shall be 

3 made only with the approval of the Office of Management 

4 and Budget: Provided further, That the transfer authority 

5 provided in this section is in addition to any other transfer 

6 authority provided by law: Provided further, That no 

7 amounts may be transferred from amounts that were des8 ignated by Congress as an emergency requirement pursu9 ant to a concurrent resolution on the budget or the Bal10 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985: 

11 Provided further, That such authority to transfer may not 

12 be used unless for higher priority items, based on emer13 gent healthcare requirements, than those for which origi14 nally appropriated and in no case where the item for which 

15 funds are requested has been denied by Congress: Pro16 vided further, That, upon determination that all or part 

17 of the funds transferred from an appropriation are not 

18 necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that 

19 appropriation and shall be available for the same purposes 

20 as originally appropriated: Provided further, That before 

21 a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Veterans Af22 fairs shall request from the Committees on Appropriations 

23 of both Houses of Congress the authority to make the 

24 transfer and receive approval of that request. 
52 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

2 SEC. 233. Amounts made available for the Depart3 ment of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2018, under the 

4 ‘‘Board of Veterans Appeals’’ and the ‘‘General Operating 

5 Expenses, Veterans Benefits Administration’’ accounts 

6 may be transferred between such accounts: Provided, That 

7 before a transfer may take place, the Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs shall request from the Committees on Appro9 priations of both Houses of Congress the authority to 

10 make the transfer and receive approval of that request. 

11 SEC. 234. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 

12 reprogram funds among major construction projects or 

13 programs if such instance of reprogramming will exceed 

14 $7,000,000, unless such reprogramming is approved by 

15 the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Con16 gress. 

17 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

18 SEC. 235. Of the unobligated balances available with19 in the ‘‘DOD–VA Health Care Sharing Incentive Fund’’, 

20 $15,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

21 SEC. 236. For the purposes of performing an activity 

22 or function of the Veterans Health Administration, Vet23 erans Benefit Administration, or National Cemetery Ad24 ministration, section 842 of Public Law 109–115 shall not 

25 apply to a qualified firm under 51 percent ownership by 
53 

•S 1557 PCS

1 a covered entity defined in section 450b(e) of title 25, 

2 United States Code or a covered entity defined in section 

3 637(a)(15) of title 15, United States Code. 

4 SEC. 237. (a) No funds appropriated or otherwise 

5 made available in this Act shall be used to pay a bonus 

6 to any employee of the Veterans Health Administration 

7 in a position of Deputy Under Secretary for Health or 

8 higher until the Committee on Appropriations of the Sen9 ate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

10 of Representatives determine that all recommendations set 

11 forth by the Inspector General of the Department of Vet12 erans Affairs and the Comptroller General of the United 

13 States in report numbers GAO 16–373, VAOIG 14– 

14 03540–11–123, and VAOIG 16–03985–181 have been 

15 fully implemented and closed. 

16 (b) Not less frequently than monthly until the Com17 mittee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee 

18 on Appropriations of the House of Representatives make 

19 the determination described in subsection (a), and not less 

20 frequently than quarterly during the one-year period after 

21 such determination, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

22 shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the 

23 Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 

24 of Representatives a progress report on fully implementing 

25 the recommendations described in subsection (a). 
54 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 238. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), 

2 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the 

3 Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor, shall dis4 continue using Social Security account numbers to identify 

5 individuals in all information systems of the Department 

6 of Veterans Affairs as follows: 

7 (1) For all veterans submitting to the Secretary 

8 of Veterans Affairs new claims for benefits under 

9 laws administered by the Secretary, not later than 2 

10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

11 (2) For all individuals not described in para12 graph (1), not later than 5 years after the date of 

13 the enactment of this Act. 

14 (b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use a So15 cial Security account number to identify an individual in 

16 an information system of the Department of Veterans Af17 fairs if and only if the use of such number is required 

18 to obtain information the Secretary requires from an in19 formation system that is not under the jurisdiction of the 

20 Secretary. 

21 SEC. 239. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

22 treat a marriage and family therapist described in sub23 section (b) as qualified to serve as a marriage and family 

24 therapist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, regard25 less of any requirements established by the Commission 
55 

•S 1557 PCS

1 on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Edu2 cation. 

3 (b) A marriage and family therapist described in this 

4 subsection is a therapist who meets each of the following 

5 criteria: 

6 (1) Has a masters or higher degree in marriage 

7 and family therapy, or a related field, from a region8 ally accredited institution. 

9 (2) Is licensed as a marriage and family thera10 pist in a State (as defined in section 101(20) of title 

11 38, United States Code) and possesses the highest 

12 level of licensure offered from the State. 

13 (3) Has passed the Association of Marital and 

14 Family Therapy Regulatory Board Examination in 

15 Marital and Family Therapy or a related examina16 tion for licensure administered by a State (as so de17 fined). 

18 SEC. 240. (a) None of the funds appropriated or oth19 erwise made available in this Act to the Department of 

20 Veterans Affairs shall be expended for the purpose of or21 ganizing or using groups of subject matter experts to 

22 evaluate compensation claims under the laws administered 

23 by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

24 (b) It is the sense of Congress that the evaluation 

25 and adjudication of compensation claims under the laws 
56 

•S 1557 PCS

1 administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should 

2 be a uniform process equally applied to all claims and the 

3 Secretary should not use subject matter experts or any 

4 other process that applies additional or heightened scru5 tiny to claims of a particular class of veterans absent ex6 plicit legislative authorization to do so. 

7 SEC. 241. None of the funds appropriated in this or 

8 prior appropriations Acts or otherwise made available to 

9 the Department of Veterans Affairs may be used to trans10 fer any amounts from the Filipino Veterans Equity Com11 pensation Fund to any other account within the Depart12 ment of Veterans Affairs. 

13 SEC. 242. (a) One year after enactment of this Act, 

14 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall deny or revoke the 

15 eligibility of a healthcare provider to provide non-Depart16 ment healthcare services to veterans if the Secretary deter17 mines that— 

18 (1) the healthcare provider was removed from 

19 employment with the Department of Veterans Af20 fairs due to conduct that violated a policy of the De21 partment relating to the delivery of safe and appro22 priate patient care; 

23 (2) the healthcare provider violated the require24 ments of a medical license of the healthcare pro25 vider; 
57 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (3) the healthcare provider had a Department 

2 credential revoked and the Secretary determines that 

3 the grounds for such revocation impact the ability of 

4 the healthcare provider to deliver safe and appro5 priate care; or 

6 (4) the healthcare provider violated a law for 

7 which a term of imprisonment of more than one year 

8 may be imposed. 

9 (b) One year after enactment of this Act, the Sec10 retary may deny, revoke, or suspend the eligibility of a 

11 healthcare provider to provide non-Department healthcare 

12 services if the Secretary has reasonable belief that such 

13 action is necessary to immediately protect the health, safe14 ty, or welfare of veterans and— 

15 (1) the healthcare provider is under investiga16 tion by the medical licensing board of a State in 

17 which the healthcare provider is licensed or prac18 tices; 

19 (2) the healthcare provider has entered into a 

20 settlement agreement for a disciplinary charge relat21 ing to the practice of medicine by the healthcare 

22 provider; or 

23 (3) the Secretary otherwise determines that 

24 such action is appropriate under the circumstances. 
58 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (c) The Secretary shall suspend the eligibility of a 

2 healthcare provider to provide non-Department healthcare 

3 services to veterans if the healthcare provider is suspended 

4 from serving as a healthcare provider of the Department. 

5 (d) The Secretary shall review the Department em6 ployment status and history of each healthcare provider 

7 providing non-Department healthcare services to deter8 mine instances of circumstances described in subsections 

9 (a) through (c) and shall take action as appropriate to 

10 each circumstance as described in subsections (a) through 

11 (c). 

12 (e) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact13 ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 

14 States shall submit to Congress a report on the implemen15 tation by the Secretary of this section, including the fol16 lowing: 

17 (1) The aggregate number of healthcare pro18 viders denied or suspended under this section from 

19 participation in providing non-Department 

20 healthcare services. 

21 (2) An evaluation of any impact on access to 

22 care for patients or staffing shortages in programs 

23 of the Department providing non-Department 

24 healthcare services. 
59 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (3) An explanation of the coordination of the 

2 Department with the medical licensing boards of 

3 States in implementing this section, the amount of 

4 involvement of such boards in such implementation, 

5 and efforts by the Department to address any con6 cerns raised by such boards with respect to such im7 plementation. 

8 (4) Such recommendations as the Comptroller 

9 General considers appropriate regarding harmo10 nizing eligibility criteria between healthcare pro11 viders of the Department and healthcare providers 

12 eligible to provide non-Department healthcare serv13 ices. 

14 (f) In this section, the term ‘‘non-Department 

15 healthcare services’’ means— 

16 (1) services provided under subchapter I of 

17 chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, at non18 Department facilities (as defined in section 1701 of 

19 such title); 

20 (2) services provided under section 101 of the 

21 Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 

22 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note); 

23 (3) services purchased through the Medical 

24 Community Care account of the Department; or 
60 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (4) services purchased with amounts deposited 

2 in the Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 of 

3 the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act 

4 of 2014. 

5 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

6 SEC. 243. (a) Of the unobligated balance of funds 

7 made available under the heading ‘‘Construction, Major 

8 Projects’’ in division A of the Disaster Relief Appropria9 tions Act of 2013 and Sandy Recovery Improvement Act 

10 of 2013 (Public Law 113–2), $25,000,000 is hereby re11 scinded: Provided, That the amounts rescinded pursuant 

12 to this section that were previously designated by the Con13 gress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 

14 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

15 Deficit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the Con16 gress as an emergency requirement pursuant to that sec17 tion of that Act. 

18 (b) For an additional amount for fiscal year 2017 for 

19 ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’, $25,000,000, to remain 

20 available until September 30, 2022, for renovations and 

21 repairs as a consequence of damage caused by Hurricane 

22 Sandy: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provi23 sion of law, such funds may be obligated and expended 

24 to carry out planning and design and major medical facil25 ity construction not otherwise authorized by law: Provided 
61 

•S 1557 PCS

1 further, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

2 as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to sec3 tion 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emer4 gency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

5 (c) Each amount designated in this section by the 

6 Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to sec7 tion 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emer8 gency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available (or 

9 rescinded, if applicable) only if the President subsequently 

10 so designates all such amounts and transmits such des11 ignations to the Congress. 

12 (d) This section shall become effective immediately 

13 upon enactment of this Act. 

14 (RESCISSIONS OF FUNDS)

15 SEC. 244. (a) Of the unobligated balance of funds 

16 made available through September 30, 2018, under the 

17 heading ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ in division J of 

18 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 

19 113–76), $10,000,000 is hereby rescinded. 

20 (b) For an additional amount for ‘‘Construction, 

21 Major Projects’’, $10,000,000, to remain available until 

22 September 30, 2023. 

23 (c) Of the unobligated balance of funds made avail24 able through September 30, 2019, under the heading 

25 ‘‘Construction, Major Projects’’ in division I of the Con-
62 

•S 1557 PCS

1 solidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2 2015 (Public Law 113–235), $410,000,000 is hereby re3 scinded. 

4 (d) For an additional amount for ‘‘Construction, 

5 Major Projects’’, $410,000,000, to remain available until 

6 September 30, 2024. 

7 SEC. 245. Of the funds provided to the Department 

8 of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal year 2018 and fiscal 

9 year 2019 for ‘‘Medical Services’’, funds may be used in 

10 each year to carry out and expand the child care program 

11 authorized by section 205 of Public Law 111–163, not12 withstanding subsection (e) of such section. 

13 SEC. 246. (a) Section 204(c) of the Department of 

14 Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act 

15 of 2001 (Public Law 107–135; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is 

16 amended— 

17 (1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘The program’’; 

18 and 

19 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

20 paragraph: 

21 ‘‘(2) The program shall be carried out at not 

22 fewer than two medical centers or clinics in each 

23 Veterans Integrated Service Network by not later 

24 than December 31, 2019, and at not fewer than 50 

25 percent of all medical centers in each Veterans Inte-
63 

•S 1557 PCS

1 grated Service Network by not later than December 

2 31, 2021.’’. 

3 (b)(1) Paragraph (6) of section 1701 of title 38, 

4 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

5 following new subparagraph: 

6 ‘‘(H) Chiropractic services.’’. 

7 (2) Paragraph (8) of such section is amended by in8 serting ‘‘chiropractic,’’ after ‘‘counseling,’’. 

9 (3) Paragraph (9) of such section is amended— 

10 (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) 

11 through (K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), re12 spectively; and 

13 (B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol14 lowing new subparagraph (F): 

15 ‘‘(F) periodic and preventive chiropractic 

16 examinations and services;’’. 

17 SEC. 247. (a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of 

18 Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to provide 

19 educational assistance to certain former members of the 

20 Armed Forces for education and training as physician as21 sistants of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

22 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—An individual is eligi23 ble to participate in the pilot program if the individual— 
64 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (1) has medical or military health experience 

2 gained while serving as a member of the Armed 

3 Forces; 

4 (2) has received a certificate, associate degree, 

5 baccalaureate degree, master’s degree, or 

6 postbaccalaureate training in a science relating to 

7 health care; or 

8 (3) has participated in the delivery of 

9 healthcare services or related medical services, in10 cluding participation in military training relating to 

11 the identification, evaluation, treatment, and preven12 tion of diseases and disorders. 

13 (c) DURATION.—The pilot program shall be carried 

14 out during the 5-year period beginning on the date that 

15 is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 (d) SELECTION.— 

17 (1) The Secretary shall select eligible individ18 uals under subsection (b) to participate in the pilot 

19 program. 

20 (2) In selecting individuals to participate in the 

21 pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

22 shall give priority to individuals who agree to be em23 ployed as a physician assistant for the Veterans 

24 Health Administration at a medical facility of the 

25 Department located in a community that— 
65 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (A) is designated as a medically under2 served population under section 330(b)(3)(A) of 

3 the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

4 254b(b)(3)(A)); and 

5 (B) is in a State with a per capita popu6 lation of veterans of more than 5 percent ac7 cording to the National Center for Veterans 

8 Analysis and Statistics and the United States 

9 Census Bureau. 

10 (e) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out the 

11 pilot program, the Secretary shall provide educational as12 sistance to individuals participating in the pilot program, 

13 including through the use of scholarships, to cover the 

14 costs to such individuals of obtaining a master’s degree 

15 in physician assistant studies or a similar master’s degree. 

16 (f) PERIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICE.—The Secretary 

17 shall enter into an agreement with each individual partici18 pating in the pilot program in which such individual 

19 agrees to be employed as a physician assistant for the Vet20 erans Health Administration for a period of obligated 

21 service to be determined by the Secretary. 

22 (g) BREACH.—An individual who participates in the 

23 pilot program and fails to satisfy the period of obligated 

24 service under subsection (f) shall be liable to the United 

25 States, in lieu of such obligated service, for the amount 
66 

•S 1557 PCS

1 that has been paid or is payable to or on behalf of the 

2 individual under the pilot program, reduced by the propor3 tion that the number of days served for completion of the 

4 period of obligated service bears to the total number of 

5 days in the period of obligated service of such individual. 

6 (h) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 

8 Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the 

9 Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Health and 

10 Human Services, shall submit to Congress a report on the 

11 pilot program’s effectiveness of helping to meet the short12 age of physician assistants employed by the Department. 

13 SEC. 248. (a) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of 

14 verifying that an individual performed service under hon15 orable conditions that satisfies the requirements of a 

16 coastwise merchant seaman who is recognized pursuant to 

17 section 401 of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (Pub18 lic Law 95–202; 38 U.S.C. 106 note) as having performed 

19 active duty service for the purposes described in subsection 

20 (c)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall accept the following: 

21 (1) In the case of an individual who served on 

22 a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 

23 for whom no applicable Coast Guard shipping or dis24 charge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s docu25 ment or Z-card, or other official employment record 
67 

•S 1557 PCS

1 is available, the Secretary of Defense shall provide 

2 such recognition on the basis of applicable Social Se3 curity Administration records submitted for or by 

4 the individual, together with validated testimony 

5 given by the individual or the primary next of kin 

6 of the individual that the individual performed such 

7 service during the period beginning on December 7, 

8 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 

9 (2) In the case of an individual who served on 

10 a coastwise merchant vessel seeking such recognition 

11 for whom the applicable Coast Guard shipping or 

12 discharge form, ship logbook, merchant mariner’s 

13 document or Z-card, or other official employment 

14 record has been destroyed or otherwise become un15 available by reason of any action committed by a 

16 person responsible for the control and maintenance 

17 of such form, logbook, or record, the Secretary of 

18 Defense shall accept other official documentation 

19 demonstrating that the individual performed such 

20 service during period beginning on December 7, 

21 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 

22 (3) For the purpose of determining whether to 

23 recognize service allegedly performed during the pe24 riod beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on 

25 December 31, 1946, the Secretary shall recognize 
68 

•S 1557 PCS

1 masters of seagoing vessels or other officers in com2 mand of similarly organized groups as agents of the 

3 United States who were authorized to document any 

4 individual for purposes of hiring the individual to 

5 perform service in the merchant marine or dis6 charging an individual from such service. 

7 (b) TREATMENT OF OTHER DOCUMENTATION.— 

8 Other documentation accepted by the Secretary of Defense 

9 pursuant to subsection (a)(2) shall satisfy all requirements 

10 for eligibility of service during the period beginning on De11 cember 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. 

12 (c) BENEFITS ALLOWED.— 

13 (1) MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND DECORATIONS.— 

14 An individual whose service is recognized as active 

15 duty pursuant to subsection (a) may be awarded an 

16 appropriate medal, ribbon, or other military decora17 tion based on such service. 

18 (2) STATUS OF VETERAN.—An individual whose 

19 service is recognized as active duty pursuant to sub20 section (a) shall be honored as a veteran but shall 

21 not be entitled by reason of such recognized service 

22 to any benefit that is not described in this sub23 section. 

24 SEC. 249. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 

25 of law, the amounts appropriated or otherwise made avail-
69 

•S 1557 PCS

1 able to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the ‘‘Med2 ical Services’’ account may be used to provide— 

3 (1) fertility counseling and treatment using as4 sisted reproductive technology to a covered veteran 

5 or the spouse of a covered veteran; or 

6 (2) adoption reimbursement to a covered vet7 eran. 

8 (b) In this section: 

9 (1) The term ‘‘service-connected’’ has the 

10 meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, 

11 United States Code. 

12 (2) The term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a vet13 eran, as such term is defined in section 101 of title 

14 38, United States Code, who has a service-connected 

15 disability that results in the inability of the veteran 

16 to procreate without the use of fertility treatment. 

17 (3) The term ‘‘assisted reproductive tech18 nology’’ means benefits relating to reproductive as19 sistance provided to a member of the Armed Forces 

20 who incurs a serious injury or illness on active duty 

21 pursuant to section 1074(c)(4)(A) of title 10, United 

22 States Code, as described in the memorandum on 

23 the subject of ‘‘Policy for Assisted Reproductive 

24 Services for the Benefit of Seriously or Severely Ill/ 

25 Injured (Category II or III) Active Duty Service 
70 

•S 1557 PCS

1 Members’’ issued by the Assistant Secretary of De2 fense for Health Affairs on April 3, 2012, and the 

3 guidance issued to implement such policy, including 

4 any limitations on the amount of such benefits avail5 able to such a member. 

6 (4) The term ‘‘adoption reimbursement’’ means 

7 reimbursement for the adoption-related expenses for 

8 an adoption that is finalized after the date of the en9 actment of this Act under the same terms as apply 

10 under the adoption reimbursement program of the 

11 Department of Defense, as authorized in Depart12 ment of Defense Instruction 1341.09, including the 

13 reimbursement limits and requirements set forth in 

14 such instruction. 

15 (c) Amounts made available for the purposes speci16 fied in subsection (a) of this section are subject to the 

17 requirements for funds contained in section 508 of division 

18 H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public 

19 Law 115–31). 

20 (RESCISSION OF FUNDS)

21 SEC. 250. Of the unobligated balances available from 

22 prior year appropriations under the heading ‘‘Information 

23 Technology Systems’’, $30,000,000 are hereby rescinded. 

24 SEC. 251. (a) DEMAND PROFILE.— 
71 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

2 Affairs shall establish a demand profile with respect 

3 to each healthcare service furnished under the laws 

4 administered by the Secretary. 

5 (2) ELEMENTS.—Each demand profile estab6 lished under paragraph (1) with respect to a 

7 healthcare service shall include the following infor8 mation: 

9 (A) The number of requests for the 

10 healthcare service under the laws administered 

11 by the Secretary. 

12 (B) The number of appointments for the 

13 receipt of the healthcare service under the laws 

14 administered by the Secretary, disaggregated 

15 by— 

16 (i) appointments at facilities of the 

17 Department of Veterans Affairs; and 

18 (ii) appointments with non-Depart19 ment healthcare providers. 

20 (C) The capacity of the Department to 

21 provide the healthcare service at facilities of the 

22 Department. 

23 (D) An assessment of the extent to which 

24 the Department needs to use non-Department 

25 healthcare providers to provide healthcare serv-
72 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ices under the laws administered by the Sec2 retary. 

3 (3) USE OF DEMAND PROFILE FOR PROVISION

4 OF NON-DEPARTMENT CARE.—The Secretary shall 

5 use the demand profile established under paragraph 

6 (1) to inform the capability and capacity of any non7 Department healthcare services provided under the 

8 laws administered by the Secretary. 

9 (b) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 

11 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec12 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appro13 priate committees of Congress a strategic plan that 

14 specifies a 5-year forecast— 

15 (A) for healthcare capacity and capabilities 

16 to be provided and maintained at each medical 

17 facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs; 

18 and 

19 (B) for the demand for health care from 

20 the Department, disaggregated by geographic 

21 area as determined by the Secretary. 

22 (2) UPDATE.—The Secretary shall annually up23 date the strategic plan required under paragraph (1) 

24 during the 5-year period specified in such sub25 section. 
73 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (3) ELEMENTS.—In preparing the strategic 

2 plan under paragraph (1), and any updates to such 

3 plan under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall— 

4 (A) take into account the information set 

5 forth in the demand profiles established under 

6 subsection (a)(1); 

7 (B) assess capacity, capabilities, and de8 mand with respect to primary and specialty 

9 care at each medical facility of the Department; 

10 and 

11 (C) include the use of primary care in the 

12 community through any non-Department 

13 healthcare services provided under the laws ad14 ministered by the Secretary when there is a 

15 lack of density of veterans in a community to 

16 justify a full-time staff at a medical facility of 

17 the Department. 

18 (c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE19 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate commit20 tees of Congress’’ means— 

21 (1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

22 Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 

23 (2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

24 Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep25 resentatives. 
74 

•S 1557 PCS

1 SEC. 252. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCESS STAND2 ARDS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 

3 uniform access standards for furnishing the following 

4 types of health care services, including through the use 

5 of non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care pro6 viders: 

7 (1) Urgent care. 

8 (2) Routine care. 

9 (3) Referred or specialty care. 

10 (4) Wellness or preventative care. 

11 (b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—The 

12 Secretary shall coordinate with the Department of De13 fense, the Department of Health and Human Services, en14 tities in the private sector, and other non-governmental 

15 entities in establishing the uniform access standards under 

16 subsection (a). 

17 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

18 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

19 to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detail20 ing the uniform access standards established under sub21 section (a). 

22 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

23 (1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON24 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con25 gress’’ means— 
75 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (A) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

2 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

3 Senate; and 

4 (B) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

5 and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

6 House of Representatives. 

7 (2) UNIFORM ACCESS STANDARDS.—The term 

8 ‘‘uniform access standards’’ includes, with respect to 

9 a health care service— 

10 (A) the average time a veteran is expected 

11 to wait to receive an appointment for such serv12 ice; 

13 (B) the average time a veteran is expected 

14 to drive to arrive at an appointment for such 

15 service; 

16 (C) the average time a veteran is expected 

17 to wait at a facility to receive such service; and 

18 (D) such other access standards as the 

19 Secretary considers appropriate. 

20 SEC. 253. None of the funds in this or any other Act 

21 may be used to dispose of approximately 430 vacant or 

22 mostly vacant buildings and structures, and approximately 

23 730 underutilized buildings and structures, until such 

24 time as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides a report 
76 

•S 1557 PCS

1 to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of 

2 Congress including the following elements: 

3 (1) an explanation of the process and method4 ology used to determine, record and validate which 

5 buildings and structures in VA’s real property port6 folio are vacant, mostly vacant, or underutilized, and 

7 their physical condition; 

8 (2) an explanation of the process by which 

9 those property disposal analyses and plans were de10 veloped and coordinated with, and within, each 

11 VISN; 

12 (3) a cost-benefit analysis of the Department’s 

13 ongoing real property disposal plans, both in terms 

14 of this immediate disposal action, and in aggregate; 

15 (4) a discussion of the impact of historic des16 ignations of buildings and structures on the Depart17 ment’s ability to manage its real property portfolio; 

18 and 

19 (5) a certification that the disposal of these 

20 identified properties will have no significant adverse 

21 impact on the Department’s ability to provide health 

22 care and benefits for veterans. 

23 SEC. 254. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

24 use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in 

25 this title to ensure that the ratio of veterans to full-time 
77 

•S 1557 PCS

1 employment equivalents within any program of rehabilita2 tion conducted under chapter 31 of title 38, United States 

3 Code, does not exceed 125 veterans to one full-time em4 ployment equivalent. 

5 (b) Not later than 180 days after the date of the en6 actment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con7 gress a report on the programs of rehabilitation conducted 

8 under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, includ9 ing— 

10 (1) an assessment of the veteran-to-staff ratio 

11 for each such program; and 

12 (2) recommendations for such action as the 

13 Secretary considers necessary to reduce the veteran14 to-staff ratio for each such program. 

15 SEC. 255. (a) None of the funds made available in 

16 this Act may be used to deny an Inspector General funded 

17 under this Act timely access to any records, documents, 

18 or other materials available to the department or agency 

19 over which that Inspector General has responsibilities 

20 under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), 

21 or to prevent or impede that Inspector General’s access 

22 to such records, documents, or other materials, under any 

23 provision of law, except a provision of law that expressly 

24 refers to the Inspector General and expressly limits the 

25 Inspector General’s right of access. 
78 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (b) A department or agency covered by this section 

2 shall provide its Inspector General with access to all such 

3 records, documents, and other materials in a timely man4 ner. 

5 (c) Each Inspector General shall ensure compliance 

6 with statutory limitations on disclosure relevant to the in7 formation provided by the establishment over which that 

8 Inspector General has responsibilities under the Inspector 

9 General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). 

10 (d) Each Inspector General covered by this section 

11 shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the 

12 House of Representatives and the Senate within 5 cal13 endar days any failures to comply with this requirement. 

14 SEC. 256. None of the funds appropriated or other15 wise made available in this title may be used by the Sec16 retary of Veterans Affairs to enter into an agreement re17 lated to resolving a dispute or claim with an individual 

18 that would restrict in any way the individual from speak19 ing to members of Congress or their staff on any topic 

20 not otherwise prohibited from disclosure by Federal law 

21 or required by Executive Order to be kept secret in the 

22 interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign af23 fairs. 

24 SEC. 257. Appropriations made available in this Act 

25 under the heading ‘‘Medical Services’’ shall be available 
79 

•S 1557 PCS

1 to carry out sections 322(d) and 521A of title 38, United 

2 States Code, to include the payment of the administrative 

3 expenses necessary to carry out such sections. Of the 

4 amount appropriated for fiscal year 2018, up to 

5 $2,000,000 shall be available for the payment of monthly 

6 assistance allowances to veterans pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 

7 322(d) and up to $8,000,000 shall be available for the 

8 payment of grants pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 521A. Of the 

9 amounts appropriated in advance for fiscal year 2019, up 

10 to $2,000,000 shall be available for the payment of month11 ly assistance allowances to veterans pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 

12 322(d) and up to $8,000,000 shall be available for the 

13 payment of grants pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 521A. 

14 SEC. 258. (a) In fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year 

15 hereafter, beginning with the fiscal year 2019 budget re16 quest submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) 

17 of title 31, United States Code, the budget justification 

18 documents submitted for the ‘‘Construction, Major 

19 Projects’’ account of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

20 shall include, at a minimum, the information required 

21 under subsection (b). 

22 (b) The budget justification documents submitted 

23 pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, for each project— 

24 (1) the estimated total cost of the project; 
80 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (2) the funding provided for each fiscal year 

2 prior to the budget year; 

3 (3) the amount requested for the budget year; 

4 (4) the estimated funding required for the 

5 project for each of the 4 fiscal years succeeding the 

6 budget year; and 

7 (5) such additional information as is enumer8 ated under the heading relating to the ‘‘Construc9 tion, Major Projects’’ account of the Department of 

10 Veterans Affairs in the joint explanatory statement 

11 accompanying this Act. 

12 (c) Not later than 45 days after the date of enact13 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

14 submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both 

15 Houses of Congress a proposed budget justification tem16 plate that complies with the requirements of this section. 

17 SEC. 259. (a) EXTENSION.—Subsection (b) of section 

18 506 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Serv19 ices Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 523 

20 note) is amended to read as follows: 

21 ‘‘(b) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary may 

22 not carry out the pilot program after September 30, 

23 2019.’’. 
81 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (b) EXPANSION OF LOCATIONS.—Subsection (c) of 

2 such section is amended by adding at the end the following 

3 new paragraph: 

4 ‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.—The Secretary 

5 may expand the pilot program to include additional 

6 locations if the Secretary recommends that the pilot 

7 program be expanded in the initial report submitted 

8 under subsection (g)(2)(C).’’. 

9 (c) REPORT.—Subsection (g) of such section is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘Re12 port on Program’’ and inserting ‘‘Reports’’; 

13 (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and not 

14 later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot 

15 program,’’ after ‘‘September 30, 2017,’’; and 

16 (3) in paragraph (2)— 

17 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

18 (A), by striking ‘‘The report’’ and inserting 

19 ‘‘Each report’’; and 

20 (B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘or 

21 expanding’’ after ‘‘continuing’’. 

22 SEC. 260. None of the funds in this or any other Act 

23 may be used to close Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

24 hospitals, domiciliaries, or clinics, or to diminish 

25 healthcare services at existing Veterans Health Adminis-
82 

•S 1557 PCS

1 tration medical facilities as part of a planned realignment 

2 of VA services until the Secretary provides to the Commit3 tees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress a re4 port including the following elements: 

5 (1) a national realignment strategy that in6 cludes a detailed description of realignment plans 

7 within each Veterans Integrated Service Network 

8 (VISN), including an updated Long Range Capital 

9 Plan to implement realignment requirements; 

10 (2) an explanation of the process by which 

11 those plans were developed and coordinated within 

12 each VISN; 

13 (3) a cost vs. benefit analysis of each planned 

14 realignment, including the cost of replacing Veterans 

15 Health Administration services with contract care or 

16 other outsourced services; 

17 (4) an analysis of how any such planned re18 alignment of services will impact access to care for 

19 veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, includ20 ing travel distances and transportation costs to ac21 cess a VA medical facility and availability of local 

22 specialty and primary care; 

23 (5) an inventory of VA buildings with historic 

24 designation and the methodology used to determine 

25 the buildings’ condition and utilization; 
83 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (6) a description of how any realignment will be 

2 consistent with requirements under the National 

3 Historic Preservation Act; and 

4 (7) consideration given for reuse of historic 

5 buildings within newly identified realignment re6 quirements: Provided, That, this provision shall not 

7 apply to capital projects in any VISN which have 

8 been authorized or approved by Congress. 

9 SEC. 261. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2402(a) of title 

10 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 

11 the following new paragraph: 

12 ‘‘(10) Any individual— 

13 ‘‘(A) who— 

14 ‘‘(i) was naturalized pursuant to sec15 tion 2(1) of the Hmong Veterans’ Natu16 ralization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106– 

17 207; 8 U.S.C. 1423 note); and 

18 ‘‘(ii) at the time of the individual’s 

19 death resided in the United States; or 

20 ‘‘(B) who— 

21 ‘‘(i) the Secretary determines served 

22 honorably with a special guerrilla unit or 

23 irregular forces operating from a base in 

24 Laos in support of the Armed Forces of 

25 the United States at any time during the 
84 

•S 1557 PCS

1 period beginning February 28, 1961, and 

2 ending May 7, 1975; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) at the time of the individual’s 

4 death— 

5 ‘‘(I) was a citizen of the United 

6 States or an alien lawfully admitted 

7 for permanent residence in the United 

8 States; and 

9 ‘‘(II) resided in the United 

10 States.’’. 

11 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

12 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an individual 

13 dying on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

14 SEC. 262. The Secretary may carry out a 2-year pilot 

15 program making grants to nonprofit veterans services or16 ganizations recognized by the Secretary in accordance 

17 with section 5902 of title 38, United States Code, to up18 grade, through construction and repair, VSO community 

19 facilities into health and wellness centers and to promote 

20 and expand complementary and integrative wellness pro21 grams: Provided, That no single grant may exceed a total 

22 of $500,000: Provided further, That the Secretary may not 

23 provide more than 20 grants during the 2-year pilot pro24 gram: Provided further, That the recipient of a grant 

25 under this section may not use the grant to purchase real 
85 

•S 1557 PCS

1 estate or to carry out repair of facilities leased by the re2 cipient or to construct facilities on property leased by the 

3 recipient: Provided further, That the Secretary ensures 

4 that the grant recipients use grant funds to construct or 

5 repair facilities located in at least 10 different geographic 

6 locations in economically depressed areas or areas des7 ignated as highly rural that are not in close proximity to 

8 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers: Provided 

9 further, That the Secretary shall report to the Committees 

10 on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress no later 

11 than 180 days after enactment of this Act, on the grant 

12 program established under this section. 

13 MODIFICATION OF PRIORITY OF STATE HOME PROJECTS

14 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

15 SEC. 263. (a) PROJECTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (4) of section 

17 8135(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amend18 ed— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in20 serting ‘‘(A) The Secretary’’; and 

21 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

22 subparagraph: 

23 ‘‘(B) With respect to a project that is approved in 

24 a fiscal year but for which a grant has not been awarded 

25 under this subchapter in that fiscal year, the Secretary 
86 

•S 1557 PCS

1 may not accord a lower priority on the list described in 

2 subparagraph (A) to that project in any subsequent fiscal 

3 year (as compared to the priority accorded that project 

4 in any previous fiscal year) unless the reason for such 

5 lower priority is the inclusion in such list of a project de6 scribed in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2).’’. 

7 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (2) 

8 of such section is amended, in the matter preceding 

9 subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘paragraphs (3) and 

10 (5)(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (3), (4)(B), and 

11 (5)(C)’’. 

12 (b) CONSIDERATION OF ACCESS TO PRIVATE FACILI13 TIES.—Such section is further amended by adding at the 

14 end the following new paragraph: 

15 ‘‘(8) In determining under subparagraphs (D), (F), 

16 and (H) of paragraph (2) whether a State has a great, 

17 significant, or limited need for beds in connection with an 

18 application under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 

19 ‘‘(A) consider the availability and accessibility 

20 to individuals in that State of private facilities pro21 viding similar care to the care for which the applica22 tion is submitted under such subsection; and 

23 ‘‘(B) accord a lower priority in the list estab24 lished under paragraph (4) to applications by States 
87 

•S 1557 PCS

1 with a significant number of such private facilities, 

2 as determined by the Secretary.’’. 

3 ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MENTAL

4 AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CERTAIN INDI5 VIDUALS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED FROM THE AC6 TIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE UNDER

7 CONDITIONS OTHER THAN HONORABLE

8 SEC. 264. (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chap9 ter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by in10 serting after section 1712C the following new section: 

11 ‘‘§ 1712D. Mental and behavioral health care for cer12 tain individuals discharged or released 

13 from the active military, naval, or air 

14 service under conditions other than hon15 orable 

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 5303(a) 

17 of this title and subject to subsection (c), the Secretary 

18 shall furnish to an eligible individual covered mental and 

19 behavioral health care. 

20 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 

21 section, an eligible individual is any of the following: 

22 ‘‘(1) An individual who— 

23 ‘‘(A) served in the active military, naval, or 

24 air service for a period of more than 180 days 

25 and was deployed in a theater of combat oper-
88 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ations, in support of a contingency operation, or 

2 in an area at a time during which hostilities are 

3 occurring in that area, for a period of more 

4 than 30 days during such service; 

5 ‘‘(B) was discharged or released from such 

6 service by reason of committing a covered of7 fense; and 

8 ‘‘(C) was diagnosed by a qualified mental 

9 health care provider with a mental or behavioral 

10 health condition before committing the covered 

11 offense. 

12 ‘‘(2) An individual who— 

13 ‘‘(A) served in the active military, naval, or 

14 air service for a period of more than 180 days 

15 and was deployed in a theater of combat oper16 ations, in support of a contingency operation, or 

17 in an area at a time during which hostilities are 

18 occurring in that area, for a period of more 

19 than 30 days during such service; 

20 ‘‘(B) was discharged or released from such 

21 service by reason of committing a covered of22 fense; 

23 ‘‘(C) is diagnosed with a mental or behav24 ioral health condition after committing such 
89 

•S 1557 PCS

1 covered offense but before the expiration of the 

2 five-year period beginning on the later of— 

3 ‘‘(i) the date of the enactment of this 

4 section; or 

5 ‘‘(ii) the date on which the individual 

6 is discharged or released from such service; 

7 ‘‘(D) submits to the Secretary— 

8 ‘‘(i) a certification from a qualified 

9 mental health care provider that the pro10 vider believes such condition may have led 

11 the individual to commit such offense; and 

12 ‘‘(ii) the Certificate of Release or Dis13 charge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) 

14 of the individual; and 

15 ‘‘(E) is determined by the Secretary pursu16 ant to subsection (c) to have had a mental or 

17 behavioral health condition at the time the indi18 vidual committed the covered offense that con19 tributed to the commission of the offense. 

20 ‘‘(c) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—(1) Not later 

21 than 90 days after receiving the information submitted 

22 under subsection (b)(2)(D) with respect to an individual, 

23 the Secretary shall determine whether, at the time of com24 mitting the covered offense, the individual had a mental 
90 

•S 1557 PCS

1 or behavioral health condition that contributed to the com2 mission of the offense. 

3 ‘‘(2) If the Secretary does not make a determination 

4 under paragraph (1) with respect to a mental or behav5 ioral health condition of an individual before the end of 

6 the 90-day period beginning on the date of the submittal 

7 of the information described in subsection (b)(2)(D), the 

8 condition is deemed to be a mental or behavioral health 

9 condition that contributed to the commission of the of10 fense until such time as the Secretary makes the deter11 mination. 

12 ‘‘(d) INITIAL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING.—(1) 

13 The Secretary may furnish to each individual described 

14 in paragraph (2) an initial mental health screening not 

15 later than the later of— 

16 ‘‘(A) five years after the date of the enactment 

17 of this section; or 

18 ‘‘(B) five years after the date on which the indi19 vidual was discharged or released from the active 

20 military, naval, or air service. 

21 ‘‘(2) Individuals described in this paragraph are the 

22 following: 

23 ‘‘(A) Eligible individuals described in subsection 

24 (b)(1). 
91 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ‘‘(B) Individuals described in subparagraphs 

2 (A), (B), and (C) of subsection (b)(2). 

3 ‘‘(3) The mental health screening provided to an indi4 vidual under paragraph (1) shall be at no cost to the indi5 vidual. 

6 ‘‘(e) NOTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary 

7 shall notify each eligible individual described in subsection 

8 (b)(1) about the eligibility of the individual for covered 

9 mental and behavioral health care under this section not 

10 later than the later of— 

11 ‘‘(1) 180 days after the date of the enactment 

12 of this section; or 

13 ‘‘(2) 180 days after the date on which the indi14 vidual was discharged or released from the active 

15 military, naval, or air service. 

16 ‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not less frequently than an17 nually, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

18 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Vet19 erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 

20 that includes, with respect to the year preceding the sub21 mittal of the report, the following: 

22 ‘‘(1) The number of eligible individuals who 

23 were furnished covered mental and behavioral health 

24 care under this section. 
92 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ‘‘(2) The number of individuals who the Sec2 retary determined under subsection (c) did not have 

3 a mental or behavioral health condition at the time 

4 of committing a covered offense that contributed to 

5 the commission of the offense. 

6 ‘‘(3) The number of individuals who requested 

7 an initial mental health screening under subsection 

8 (d). 

9 ‘‘(4) The number of individuals who were fur10 nished an initial mental health screening under sub11 section (d). 

12 ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

13 ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered mental and behavioral 

14 health care’ means the same types of medical serv15 ices furnished by the Department to individuals with 

16 service-connected mental or behavioral health condi17 tions to treat such conditions. 

18 ‘‘(2) The term ‘covered offense’ means an of19 fense for which an individual is discharged or sepa20 rated from the active military, naval, or air service 

21 under conditions other than honorable but not a dis22 honorable discharge or a discharge by court-martial. 

23 ‘‘(3) The term ‘qualified mental health care 

24 provider’ means a licensed or certified health care 

25 provider whose scope of practice includes diagnosing 
93 

•S 1557 PCS

1 mental or behavioral health conditions and includes 

2 physicians, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practi3 tioners, physician assistants, clinical social workers, 

4 and licensed professional counselors.’’. 

5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

6 at the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended 

7 by inserting after the item relating to section 1712C the 

8 following new item: 

‘‘1712D. Mental and behavioral health care for certain individuals discharged 

or released from the active military, naval, or air service under 

conditions other than honorable.’’. 

9 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 1712D of title 38, 

10 United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take 

11 effect on the date that is 120 days after the date of the 

12 enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 265. None of the funds appropriated or other14 wise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs 

15 in this Act may be used in a manner that would— 

16 (1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to 

17 participate in a medicinal marijuana program ap18 proved by a State; 

19 (2) deny any services from the Department to 

20 a veteran who is participating in such a program; or 

21 (3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health 

22 care provider of the Department to make appro23 priate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps 

24 to comply with such a program. 
94 

•S 1557 PCS

1 TITLE III 

2 RELATED AGENCIES 

3 AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

4 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

5 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

6 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, including 

7 the acquisition of land or interest in land in foreign coun8 tries; purchases and repair of uniforms for caretakers of 

9 national cemeteries and monuments outside of the United 

10 States and its territories and possessions; rent of office 

11 and garage space in foreign countries; purchase (one-for12 one replacement basis only) and hire of passenger motor 

13 vehicles; not to exceed $10,000 for official reception and 

14 representation expenses; and insurance of official motor 

15 vehicles in foreign countries, when required by law of such 

16 countries, $79,000,000, to remain available until ex17 pended. 

18 FOREIGN CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS ACCOUNT

19 For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, 

20 of the American Battle Monuments Commission, such 

21 sums as may be necessary, to remain available until ex22 pended, for purposes authorized by section 2109 of title 

23 36, United States Code. 
95 

•S 1557 PCS

1 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS

2 CLAIMS

3 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

4 For necessary expenses for the operation of the 

5 United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as 

6 authorized by sections 7251 through 7298 of title 38, 

7 United States Code, $33,608,000: Provided, That, of the 

8 foregoing amount, $800,000 shall be transferred to the 

9 General Services Administration for planning and design 

10 of a courthouse: Provided further, That $2,580,000 shall 

11 be available for the purpose of providing financial assist12 ance as described, and in accordance with the process and 

13 reporting procedures set forth, under this heading in Pub14 lic Law 102–229. 

15 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE—CIVIL

16 CEMETERIAL EXPENSES, ARMY

17 SALARIES AND EXPENSES

18 For necessary expenses for maintenance, operation, 

19 and improvement of Arlington National Cemetery and Sol20 diers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery, including 

21 the purchase or lease of passenger motor vehicles for re22 placement on a one-for-one basis only, and not to exceed 

23 $2,000 for official reception and representation expenses, 

24 $81,000,000, of which not to exceed 20 percent shall re25 main available until September 30, 2020. In addition, 
96 

•S 1557 PCS

1 such sums as may be necessary for parking maintenance, 

2 repairs and replacement, to be derived from the ‘‘Lease 

3 of Department of Defense Real Property for Defense 

4 Agencies’’ account. 

5 ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME

6 TRUST FUND

7 For expenses necessary for the Armed Forces Retire8 ment Home to operate and maintain the Armed Forces 

9 Retirement Home—Washington, District of Columbia, 

10 and the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Gulfport, Mis11 sissippi, to be paid from funds available in the Armed 

12 Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund, $64,300,000, of 

13 which $1,000,000 shall remain available until expended 

14 for construction and renovation of the physical plants at 

15 the Armed Forces Retirement Home—Washington, Dis16 trict of Columbia, and the Armed Forces Retirement 

17 Home—Gulfport, Mississippi: Provided, That of the 

18 amounts made available under this heading from funds 

19 available in the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust 

20 Fund, $22,000,000 shall be paid from the general fund 

21 of the Treasury to the Trust Fund. 

22 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

23 SEC. 301. Funds appropriated in this Act under the 

24 heading ‘‘Department of Defense—Civil, Cemeterial Ex25 penses, Army’’, may be provided to Arlington County, Vir-
97 

•S 1557 PCS

1 ginia, for the relocation of the federally owned water main 

2 at Arlington National Cemetery, making additional land 

3 available for ground burials. 

4 SEC. 302. Amounts deposited into the special account 

5 established under 10 U.S.C. 4727 are appropriated and 

6 shall be available until expended to support activities at 

7 the Army National Military Cemeteries. 
98 

•S 1557 PCS

1 TITLE IV 

2 OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS 

3 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Army’’, $139,700,000, to remain available until Sep7 tember 30, 2022, for projects outside of the United States: 

8 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

9 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter10 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal11 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

12 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

13 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

14 Navy and Marine Corps’’, $18,500,000, to remain avail15 able until September 30, 2022, for projects outside of the 

16 United States: Provided, That such amount is designated 

17 by the Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/ 

18 Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section 

19 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

20 Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

21 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, AIR FORCE

22 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

23 Air Force’’$478,030,000, to remain available until Sep24 tember 30, 2022, for projects outside of the United States: 

25 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 
99 

•S 1557 PCS

1 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter2 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal3 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

4 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

5 For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction, 

6 Defense-Wide’’, $1,900,000, to remain available until Sep7 tember 30, 2022, for projects outside of the United States: 

8 Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress 

9 for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Ter10 rorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Bal11 anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 

12 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

13 SEC. 401. Each amount designated in this Act by the 

14 Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global 

15 War on Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of 

16 the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act 

17 of 1985 shall be available only if the President subse18 quently so designates all such amounts and transmits such 

19 designations to the Congress. 
100 

•S 1557 PCS

1 TITLE V 

2 GENERAL PROVISIONS 

3 SEC. 501. No part of any appropriation contained in 

4 this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the 

5 current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 

6 SEC. 502. None of the funds made available in this 

7 Act may be used for any program, project, or activity, 

8 when it is made known to the Federal entity or official 

9 to which the funds are made available that the program, 

10 project, or activity is not in compliance with any Federal 

11 law relating to risk assessment, the protection of private 

12 property rights, or unfunded mandates. 

13 SEC. 503. All departments and agencies funded under 

14 this Act are encouraged, within the limits of the existing 

15 statutory authorities and funding, to expand their use of 

16 ‘‘E-Commerce’’ technologies and procedures in the con17 duct of their business practices and public service activi18 ties. 

19 SEC. 504. Unless stated otherwise, all reports and no20 tifications required by this Act shall be submitted to the 

21 Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Af22 fairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appro23 priations of the House of Representatives and the Sub24 committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, 
101 

•S 1557 PCS

1 and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 

2 of the Senate. 

3 SEC. 505. None of the funds made available in this 

4 Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or in5 strumentality of the United States Government except 

6 pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority pro7 vided in, this or any other appropriations Act. 

8 SEC. 506. (a) Any agency receiving funds made avail9 able in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), 

10 post on the public Web site of that agency any report re11 quired to be submitted by the Congress in this or any 

12 other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agen13 cy that it shall serve the national interest. 

14 (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if— 

15 (1) the public posting of the report com16 promises national security; or 

17 (2) the report contains confidential or propri18 etary information. 

19 (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall 

20 do so only after such report has been made available to 

21 the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for 

22 no less than 45 days. 

23 SEC. 507. (a) None of the funds made available in 

24 this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer 
102 

•S 1557 PCS

1 network unless such network blocks the viewing, 

2 downloading, and exchanging of pornography. 

3 (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of 

4 funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 

5 enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out crimi6 nal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. 

7 SEC. 508. None of the funds made available in this 

8 Act may be used by an agency of the executive branch 

9 to pay for first-class travel by an employee of the agency 

10 in contravention of sections 301–10.122 through 301– 

11 10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 

12 SEC. 509. (a) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds ap13 propriated or otherwise made available to the Department 

14 of Defense in this Act may be used to construct, renovate, 

15 or expand any facility in the United States, its territories, 

16 or possessions to house any individual detained at United 

17 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, for the 

18 purposes of detention or imprisonment in the custody or 

19 under the control of the Department of Defense. 

20 (b) The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply 

21 to any modification of facilities at United States Naval 

22 Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

23 (c) An individual described in this subsection is any 

24 individual who, as of June 24, 2009, is located at United 

25 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba, and who— 
103 

•S 1557 PCS

1 (1) is not a citizen of the United States or a 

2 member of the Armed Forces of the United States; 

3 and 

4 (2) is— 

5 (A) in the custody or under the effective 

6 control of the Department of Defense; or 

7 (B) otherwise under detention at United 

8 States Naval Station, Guanta ́namo Bay, Cuba. 

9 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Construction, 

10 Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations 

11 Act, 2018’’. 
Calendar No. 173 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1557 

[Report No. 115–130] 

A BILL 

Making appropriations for military construction, 

2018, and for other purposes. agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related 

JULY 13, 2017 

Read twice and placed on the calendar